Spray valve for water treating and other fluid flow systems



United States Patent [72] Inventors Henry W. Peterson 2,888,037 5/1959 Jones et al. 137/528 Milli m 3,131,718 5/1964 Mingrone.... 137/541X I i Savino A. Bucci, Rahway, New Jersey 3,157,198 11/1964 Wanner 137/541X [2]] Appl. No. 678,374 FOREIGN PATENT [221 Filed 1967 1 120 663 4 1956 F 277 5 [451 Patented Nov. 17,1970 3 L [73] Assignee Worthington Corporation Prlmary Examiner-William 0 1363 Harrison New Jersey Assistant Examiner-David J. Zobkiw a corporation of Delaware A"omey*Danlel Bobis [54] SPRAY VALVE FOR WATER TREATING AND 1 OTHER FLUID FLOW SYSTEMS ABSTRaCT: Th1s 1nv ent1on relates to spray valves appllcable 11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs for use 1n water treating systems but generally applicable for use in any fluid flow system in wh1ch the valve is normally [52] US. Cl ..l37/543.l5, maintained closed by a resilient or equivalent force and i 251/367 tuated to open position when the pressure in the fluid system [51] hit. Cl Flfik 15/00 reaches a point Sufficient to overcome the force maintaining [50] Field ofSearch 1 37/541, the valve in i normally closed position h valves are 54315 173 251/367; 29/checked with Moon broadly classified as check valves. In the valve of the present 15 hi-(Allen) invention, the main elements thereofincluding the valve body and the coacting valve head are made from stampings of metal [56] References cued or other materials adapted for the purposes of this valve and UNITED STATES PATENTS the valve body includes, or has formed thereon a valve seal, a 832,595 10/1906 Cook l51/41.73X valve stem guide, attachment flanges, and means for positively 1,931,01 1 10/1933 Richardson et a1, 151/4174 locking or maintaining the valve in assembled position so that 2,281,700 5/1942 Langr'naid 151/41.74 an absolutely vibrationless, nonloosening valve assembly is 2,676,041 4/1954 Englesson 277/205X provided in such assembled position.

s) z N I s E 34 Q h 25 T s 28 S). i 28 I, I4 21 2+ 26 2 Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,473

HENRY vv. PETERSON FIG. 8 II 20 SAVINO A.BUCC| BY %MJ/\/.M

" locked position;

-SPRAY VALVEFOR WATER TREATING AND OTHER FLUID FLOW SYSTEMS PRIOR ART INFORMATION The most pertinent prior art uncovered is identified in the spray valves absolutely nonloosening and vibrationless in assembled position.

This prior art does make clear, however, that conventional checkvalves made of cast materials are a well-known expedient. These valves operate on the same principle as is provided in the present invention, to wit, that some resilient, magnetic or the like type-force is utilized to maintain the valve normally closed and the pressure of the fluid in the system in which the valve is utilized acts to actuate the valve to open position.

- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides for an improved spray valve "for a fluid distribution system wherein the valve body is stamped from a single sheet of material and simultaneously there is formed therein the valve port, a valve seat about the v valve 'port. a valve stem pivot and an attachment flange by which the valve body can be assembled into operative relation in thefluid distribution system. The spray valve is also providedwith a stamped valve head which is disposed on a valve stem slidably mounted in the valve stem pivotto permit a resilient or other force acting element to coact with the valve stem to hold the valve head in normally closed engagement with the valve seat. and the spray valve is further provided with self-contained, positive locking means on the attachment flanges so that the valve may be positively locked in assembled position to render it absolutely nonloosening or vibrationless in operation.

; Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a spray valve for a fluid flow system which is of relatively simple, low cost, stamped design and construction and includes self-contained, positive locking means which will render the valve absolutely vibration proofin operation.-

It is'an'other object of the present invention to provide an --improved spray valve ofa stamped design having self-cleaning and 'nonc-ritical, positive seating characteristics, whereby valve jamming due to foreign materials becoming lodged'in the moving'parts thereof, a bent valve shaft. or other problems of whereby long periods of satisfactory, maintenance free operation thereofare assured.

'' These'and other objects and advantages of the invention will become evident from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

liRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a fragmentary view of a fluid system showing a J spray valve in accordance with the present invention in assembled position on a flat partition;

FIG. 2 shows a vertical section taken through a spray valve in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an end view ofa spray valve in accordance with the present "invention and depicts the valve locking means in Y FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of one of the self-contained l'ockingmeans formed on the valve body ofthe form of valve shown in FIG. 2. and depicts the locking means in the uh locked position thereof;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective ofthc locking means ofFlGQS depicted in open or nonlocked position;

FIG. 7 shows a cross section through the V-type ring gasket.

embodied in the valve construction shown in FIGS. 2 and 3; and

FIG. 8 shows the valve mounted on a curved partition of a member forming part ofa fluid system.

Referring to the drawings, FlG. 1 shows a fragment of a fluid flow system generally designated asland including partition or valve support means 2 havinganopening 3 formed therein to receive a spray valve generally, designated as 10 and constructed in accordance with the'present invention.

Valve 10 includes a valve body 11 which is stamped from sheet metal to a shape which is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

As shown, valve body 11 is struck inwardly at the central.

portion thereof to form valve port means as-generally indicated at 12, an annular shoulder 13, a transverse wall 14 g and, extending radially from the portion forming 'the shoulder 13, a pair of lateral, attachment flanges as at 15 and 16, respectively. The lateral flanges l5 and'l6 contain openings as at 17 and 18 for threaded members 19 and 20 which extend therethrough into threaded openings 21 and 22 inop'artition 2 'on the flat surface or partition 2 of the fluid flow system.

Shoulder I3 is struck to a dimension which permits it to engage and fit'as shown into the openings 3 formed in the partition 2. V

An annular groove 23 is formed in the valve body ll between the attachment flanges l5 and I6 and the annular v shoulder so that a V-shaped elastomeric ring-type element 24 (FIGS. 2 and 7) can be positionedduring assembly between the inner or outer face of the valve body II and the partition or flat surface 2 to which the valve 10 is being attached.

The transverse wall l4.du ring formation is stamped to provide a valve stem pivot means as generally indicated at in the central portion thereof. The said pivot means include an annuarms or members 28 to the transverse wall 14 and thus a plu-' rality of openings 29a, 29b, 29c and 29d as shown in FIG. 3 are formed between each pair of members28 and the associated portion of the transverse wall 14 so that fluid can pass about the valve stem pivot means 25 and through the valve port means 12 in the valve body ll during the operation of the valve in accordance with the present invention.

On the outer face of the valve at the point where the annular shoulder 13 is struck inwardly a valve seat-30 is formedto coact with a valve disc or head 31 connected to a valve stem or shaft 32 which extends as shown upwardly through'thc valve stem pivot'means 25.

The valve disc or head 31 is also a stamped member and has a convcxo-concavo shape of simple form to provide line scaling and to permit streamlined flow of fluid past thevalve head during operation of the spray valve 10.

At the point thereon remote fromthe end connected to the valve disc or the valve head 3!. the valve stem 32 is connected to a spring retainer 33 so that a relatively large diameter spring 34 disposed about the valve stem 32 can engage the valve spring retainer 32 at one end and the transverse wall 14 in the valve body II at the other end and act to normally hold the valve disc or head 31 in engagement, or closed, with respect to the valve seat 30. The use of relatively large diameter spring 34 with a diameter approximatingthat of valve disc 31 is of particular advantage in assuring operational stability for thc valve of the invention despite the relatively short extent of valve stem pivot means 25.

The relatively short extent ofthe valve stem pivot means 25 is of particular significance in several respects. First, it acts as head 3| and the valve stem pivot means 25 act to eliminate the conventional valve guide means heretofore in common use for stabilizing valve stem movement. Second. it prevents valve jamming in that it makes most unlikely the lodgment of foreign material between the coacting valve stem 32 and valve stem pivot nieans 25 or the opening 27 in the hub 26 thereof. Third, it would minimize the jamming effect of a bent valve shaft should this occur during operation of the fluid system or fluid treating device.

Further, this construction also provides large enough openings at 29a, 29b. 29c and 2911 to reduce the extent of the pressure drop across the valve seat 30 in open position and thus the pump required for feeding fluid'through the valve can be of smaller size than that heretofore used with prior art devices.

ln this valve when the pressure of the fluid acting through the openings 29a, 29b, 29c and 2911 is sufficiently high, it will actuate the valve disc or head 31 to an open position and, as is known, the pressure at which this will occur will be a function of the strength ofthe spring member 34.

The V-type ring gasket 24 is an elastomeric material and, as can be readily seen in H6. 7, consists of a convexo-concavo shape such that it includes legs 35 and 36 which can be caused to narrow or spread depending upon the pressures exerted by the threaded members 19 and 20 which attach the valve body ll to the partition 2.

Further. however. as shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings, if the valve body it is to be affixed to a somewhat curved partition 2'. the inherent spreadability of theelastomeric member 24 comes into play in that it can spread to readily adapt to and seal the inner or outer face of the valve body 11 in assembled position despite the partition curvature.

ln systems which utilize this type of valve it is noted that unless some mechanism is provided for holding the threaded members 19 and 20 in assembled position that these members will loosen and cause the valve members to fall out olposition. In the present invention this is overcome by providing a suitable locking means for holding the valve in assembled position.

LOCKlNG MEANS In the present invention the locking means are self-contained and are formed simultaneously when the valve body is stamped. Thus, as best seen in FIGS. 3 through 6, the locking means comprise a pair of spaced, deformable locking lugs 40 and 41 formed integrally with and extending from attachment flange l5 and a like pair ofspaced. deformable locking lugs 42 and 43 formed integrally with and extending from attachment flange l6. 1

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the lugs 42 and 43 before they have been deformed into into locking position, and in FIG. 3 the lugs are shown after they have been deformed to lock the threaded members l9 and 20 in assembled position and positively prevent the loosening of the latter through rotation thereof. This is shown in enlarged detail at FIG. 4 of the drawings wherein the locking lug 40 is shown in detail in engagement with the threaded member 19.

ln assembling the spray valve 10 to the partition 2, or 2' the elastomeric ring 24 is set in the groove 23. The central portion formed by the shoulder 13 is used to center the valve in the opening 3 in the partition 2 or 2' and threaded members 19 and 20 are then threaded into the threaded partition openings to bring the elastomeric member 24 into engagement with the outer or in'ner face of the partition 2m 2' whereupon suffi cient pressure is exerted on the valve body llto spread the legs 35 and 36 of the elastomeric member 23 to the extent necessary to provide a seal about the opening 3 or 3 in the partition 2 or 2". i

After the members 19 and 20 are set so as to provide proper assembly of the spray valve 10 the locking lugs 40,41, 42 and 43 are deformed until they are brought into engagementwith the respective heads of the threaded members 19 and 20 and when so deformed will act to positively prevent the members 18 and 19 from rotating out of the position so set.

Thus a simple. easily manufactured spray valve is provided which can be made at a very low cost as compared to the analogous valves of the prior art. and which overcomes the problems of the prior art valves by providing an absolutely 5 nonloosening and vibrationless assembly between the valve body and the partition to which it is connected.

More specifically, with regard to the truly significant cost reductions made possible through the use of'thc stamped...

valves of the invention. a detailed and carefully conducted.-

cost study reveals the cost of the valves of the invention for-a j.

particular water treatment system application to be less than" 10 percent of the cost of the formerly-used, machined valves of the prior art to thus make clear that the cost per valve has been reduced by over 90 percent through the use of the valves of the invention. In addition, thisstudy made clear that the more sturdy and reliable construction of the valve of the invention, which enable higher flow rates'therethrough, made possible a reduction in the number of valves required for the particular water system application of over 30 percent.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown but that they may be widely modified within the invention defined by the claims.

We claim: y

1. In a spray valve for use in fluid treating or other flow systems having spray valve support means, said spray valve being normally maintained closed and actuated to its opened position by the pressure of the fluid in the system. said spray valve comprising:

a. valve body means formed from a stamped sheet ofmaterial, said valve body means comprising: l.-attaehment flange means for attachment of said valve to'said support means in said fluid flow system; 2. a valve port defined by a depression in said stamped sheet;

b. a valve stem disposed in slidable engagement with said valve stem pivot means;

c. valve head means of arcuate form attached to said valve stem and movable with the valve stem to engage and disengage said valve seat means to'open and close the valve port; and y resilient means about said valve stem connected at one end to the end of said valve stem remote from the valve head means and in engagement at the other end with the valve body means for normally maintaining said valve head means in engagement with the valve seat means and thereby maintain said spray valve normally closed. I

2. ln a spray valve as claimed in claim I wherein said valve stem pivot means includes:

a. a centrally disposed hub having an opening therethrough to receive said valve stem for slidable movement in said pivot means;

b. a plurality of radially extending support members each connected atone end to said hub and at the end remote therefrom to the valve body at a point remote from said valve seat; and

the walls of the opening formed in said annular hub providing relatively limited surfaceengagemcnt with said valve stem so as to permit pivotal action of the valve stem during operation of the spray valve.

3. In a spray valve as in claim 1 wherein, said resilient nieaits have a diameter which approximates the diameter of said said .valve port having a plurality of openings in said.

valve head means for coacting with said valve stem pivot elastomcric seal member for mounting outboard of a said position by the pressure of the'fluid in the system, said spray valve comprising:

a. valve body means formed from a stamped sheet ofmaterial said valve body means comprising: l. attachment flange means for attachment of said valve to said support means in saidfluid flow system;

2. a valve port defined by a depression in said stamped sheet;

3. valve stem pivot means formed in said valve body means;

4. valve seat means formed in association with a bend in the surface of said stamped sheet disposed about said valve-port;

5. said valve port having a plurality of openings in said depression adapted to permit the flow of fluid through said valve port;

b. a valve stem disposed in slidable engagement with said valve stem pivot means; I i

c. valve hcad means attached to said valve stem and operative to engage and disengage from said valve seat means to open and close the valve port;

d. attachment means protruding through said attachment flange means for coaction with said attachment flange means to attach said spray valve to said support means in the fluid flow system; and

c. said attachment flange means including locking means for coaction with said attachment means to lock the latter -and maintain said spray valve assembled on said valve' 8. In a spray valve as in claim 6 wherein, said locking means comprise lockinglugs which are struck from the attachment flange means at points adjacent said attachment means and extend from said attachment flange means into contact with said attachment means to positively lock the latter. 7 r

9. In a spray valve as in claim 6 wherein further including an elastomcric seal member for mounting outboard of said valve support means between valve body means and said valve support means to seal said spray valve relative said valve support means.

10. In a spray valve as in claim 9 wherein, said elastomcric seal member includes spaced leg means which are spreadable into engagement with said valvesupport means to maintain said spray valve-valve support means seal.

l1. ln a spray valve for use in fluid treating or other fluid flow systems having spray valve support means. said spray valve being normally maintained closed and actuated to its open position by the pressure of the fluid in the system. said spray valve comprising:

a. valve body means formed from a stamped sheet ofmatcrial. said valve body comprising;

l. attachment flange means for attachment of said valve to said support means in said fluid flow system;

2. a valve port defined by a depression in said stamped sheet;

3. said valve port having a plurality olopenings in said depression to permit the flow of fluid through said valve port;

4. valve stem pivot means formed in said valve port;

5. valve seat means formed in association with a bend in the surface of said stamped sheet and disposed about said valve port;

b. a valve stem disposed in slidable engagement with said valve stem pivot means;

C.VZllV head means of arcuate form attached to said valve stem and movable with the valve stem to engage and disengage said valve seat means to open and close the valve port;

d. resilient means about said valve stem connected at one end to the end of said valve stem remote from the valve head means and in engagement at the other end with the valve body means for normally maintaining said valve head means in engagement with the valve seat means and thereby maintain said spray valve normally closed;

c. said resilient means having a diameter which approximates the diameter of said valve head means for coacting with the valve stem pivot means to stabilize movement of said valve stem during operation olthc spray valve;

l. attachment means protruding through said attachment flange means for coacting with said attachment flange means to attach said spray valve to said support means in g. locking means on said valve body means to lock said attachment means and maintain said valve assembled on said spray valve support means. 

